10.1" Hypacrosaurus Dinosaur Fossil Vertebrae Two Medicine FM Montana COA, Stand
Location: Two Medicine Formation, Montana (Private Land Origin)
Total Weight: 7 Pounds, 9.4 Ounces
Fossil Bone Weight: 6 pounds, 5.8 Ounces
Fossil Dimensions: 10.1 Inches Long, 8 Inches Wide, 3.2 Inches Thick
With Stand Dimensions: 11 Inches Long, 8 Inches Wide, 4 Inches Thick
Comes with a Custom Made Metal Stand.
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
This is a real fossil
Hypacrosaurus Dinosaur
Hypacrosaurus, meaning “near the highest lizard,” was a large lambeosaurine hadrosaurid that roamed late Cretaceous North America. Measuring up to nine meters in length, it was slightly smaller than the towering Tyrannosaurus, which could reach twelve meters. Fossil evidence suggests that Hypacrosaurus and similar hadrosaurs were likely prey for these massive predators, as well as other carnivores like Albertosaurus. One compelling example is a healed bite on an Edmontosaurus, showing that tyrannosaurs attacked living animals rather than scavenging carcasses—a rare glimpse into the predator-prey dynamics of the time.
Reproduction was essential for the survival of Hypacrosaurus. Each nest contained around twenty eggs, suggesting that these dinosaurs bred prolifically to offset high mortality rates. Juveniles faced additional risks from smaller predators such as Troodon, which may have preyed on hatchlings and young individuals, limiting the number of Hypacrosaurus that survived to adulthood. This combination of predation pressures and high reproductive output helped maintain stable populations despite constant threats.
One of Hypacrosaurus’ most distinctive traits was its hollow cranial crest, broader and lower than that of its close relative Corythosaurus. Like other lambeosaurines, the crest likely served as a visual signaling device, allowing individuals to identify members of their own species, similar to how differences in horns or frills distinguished ceratopsian dinosaurs.
With its unique crest, reproductive strategy, and role within a predator-rich ecosystem, Hypacrosaurus provides a fascinating window into the Late Cretaceous world, illustrating how herbivorous dinosaurs navigated survival, communication, and competition in a land dominated by fearsome carnivores.
